'Hunger Games' Prequel Debuts at $44M, 'The Marvels' Sees Record Decline

'Hunger Games' Prequel Debuts at $44M, 'The Marvels' Sees Record Decline 

Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" dominated the pre-Thanksgiving weekend with a $44 million domestic box office opening, though falling slightly below initial projections. Despite this, the film holds potential for increased earnings during Thanksgiving week, historically a prosperous period for the box office.

Initial estimates suggested the film might surpass $50 million in ticket sales, a crucial milestone for Lionsgate's endeavor to establish a spinoff franchise. Although the studio anticipated an opening between $45 to $50 million, Saturday's turnout fell below expectations, impacting the final weekend figures.

Internationally, the fifth installment in the Hunger Games series debuted with $54.5 million from 87 markets, totaling a global opening of $98.5 million. The movie received funding from foreign distributors who acquired rights in specific territories.

"The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" marks the return to the franchise eight years after its last theatrical release and 12 years since the original film premiered. Despite a B+ CinemaScore (the lowest in the franchise), the majority of Friday's audience comprised female viewers, accounting for 64 percent.

Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ book, the prequel stars Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth alongside Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis. Francis Lawrence, known for directing three previous Hunger Games movies, helms this installment.

Alongside this release, Universal and DreamWorks' "Trolls Band Together" secured the second position, amassing $30.6 million domestically. Despite critical reservations, the family-oriented film earned an A CinemaScore and is expected to finish the weekend with $76.3 million internationally and $108.1 million globally.

Conversely, "The Marvels" experienced a significant setback, dropping 78 percent in its second weekend, marking Marvel Studios’ steepest second-weekend decline. With earnings of $10.2 million for the weekend and a global total of $161.3 million, the film faces challenges compared to other Marvel Cinematic Universe titles.

Additionally, Eli Roth’s horror film "Thanksgiving" garnered a B- CinemaScore, predominantly attracting a male audience and earning $2.4 million internationally, contributing to a global start of $12.6 million.

In the specialty box office arena, MGM and Amazon's "Saltburn" opened promisingly in seven locations, averaging $45,100 per theater. Meanwhile, "The Holdovers" climbed to the sixth position with $2.7 million, reaching an early domestic total of $8.4 million.

Lastly, Searchlight's "Next Goal Wins" opened at No. 7 with an initial earnings of $2.5 million from 2,240 theaters. Looking ahead, new releases like Apple Original Films and Sony’s "Napoleon" and Disney Animation’s "Wish" are set to debut on November 22, adding to the Thanksgiving holiday movie offerings.